Sectional chest.



G. P. TILTON.

SEGTIONAL CHEST.

APPLIUATION FILED JUNI: 11'. 1910.

Patented -Feb.21, 191,1.

IN 17E N T 0R;

Ailarneyx n'rnnfr onirica,

GEORGE P. TILTON, F NEWBURYPORT, MASSACHUSETTS.

SECTIONAL CHEST.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led .Tune 11, 1910.

Patented Feb. A221, 1911.

serial No. 566,409.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gnoncn P. TUJ'roN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Newburyport, Essex county, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sectional Chests; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full,

clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates t-o furniture, and more especially to cabinets; and the object of the same is to produce a sectional chest for retaining` silverware or the like and which may be extended fromvtime to time by the insertion of additional sections or elements whereof each contains a drawer.

To this end the present invention consists broadly in the structure of a sectional chest embodying a base, a tray with its cover, and a number of sections each comprising a frame and its drawer; and the invention vconsists specifically in the details of construction of these several .parts and of the means for detachably fastening them together and supporting the entire chest, all as described below and as shown in the drawings wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of this improved chest comprising a single drawer section and the top and `bottom sections, all closed, and a corner broken away t-o show one supporting member. Fig. 2 .is a perspective view of the same parts slightly separated from each other, the cover `of lthe uppermost section being open. Fig. 3 is a detail of one of the supports inverted from the position shown in Fig. 1. -Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the sectional fastening which forms a part of the lock. Fig. 5 is a detail of the catch forming part of the fastening. In the drawings I have shown ka sectional `chest comprising essentially a base member B, a top member consisting of a tray T and a cover C hinged thereto, and but one of several interchangeable drawer members each consisting of a frame F and adrawer D although it will be understood that these drawer members or sections may be added indelinitely by simply extending thelength of the supports S and the fastener L forming part of the locking device. By preference the various members are of wood ornamentally finished on their exterior and suitably lined and possibly padded, as the .especial purpose of the chest is to contain silverware and jewelry and perhaps glassware and other valuable but not cumbersome articles. I employ the well known principle `of building this chest in units Yor sections so that when the user needs more room than afforded by the article illustrated in `the drawings he can add a drawer section to increase its capacity, and I lay no claim to this principleV further than as it applies to the present invention.

The base member B is rectangular and preferably oblong, of a suitable thickness to make it proportionate to the entire chest, and of an exterior finish approximating that usually employed for bases which -are to rest upon a support and perhaps upon the floor, and by reason 0f that fact it need have `no handles. As shown it comprises four Side bars l which are preferably connected at their meeting ends by miter joints 2 and braces 3 .as usual. it may have a closed .bottom ilalthough this is not absolutely necessary, and its side bars carry upwardly projecting dowel pins or plates having holes 8 for downwardly lprojecting dowel pins on the section above, or both.

The itop member also comprises side bars 2l mitered together at 22 and braced at 23,

and this member by preference has a closed bottom 2st whereby it constitutes a tray T which is of the same exterior size and shape as the base upon which it is to be superim posed. By preference .the top member also includes a cover C formed of side Abars 31 mitered together at32 and braced at 33 and having a closed top 34 adapted when the cover is folded down to form the top of the tray. These two elements also have dowel pins 37 and holes QS adapted to engage when they are closed together. The cover ,C is hinged to the drawer in any suitable way as at Q9, and by preference some form of brace such as links 39 is employed to hold `thecover when raised a litt-le beyond a vertical.

The drawer members constituting the removable sections of this chest are interposed between the base and top, and as :all are alike a description of one will suilice. Each comprises a frame F and a drawer I), and the frame F consists of three side bars 41 mitered together at 42 and braced at 43, and having dowel pins 47 and holes 48, or both, in both their upper and lower edges to engage similar members in the base and top if but one drawer section is used or in adjacent drawer sections if more than one are employed. In order to make a neat finish, small pieces t0 of the front bar are secured to the front ends of the side bars 41, and the inner ends of these pieces and inner faces of said side bars are formed with ribs or ledges 4&6 constituting guides for the drawer D. The latter consists of a front 50 exteriorly ornamented to conform with the front of the other sections of the chest, sides 5l, a closed bottom 54, and a back 55, and the Outeifaces of the sides are grooved as at 56 or otherwise formed so that they will engage the ribs or ledges 46 and permit the drawer to be sli-d into place within the frame or drawn partially or wholly out of it as shown. On the front 50 are handles 59 of any appropriate type. As above stated, there may be several of these drawer sections and all are alike save perhaps that some may be deeper than others, although all members of this chest will be of one contour so that the dowel pins and holes may engage.

The supporting members S for this chest are, broadly speaking, little more than bolts. Each comprises a shank 61 threaded at its lower end as at 62 for the reception of4 an ornamental nut 63 of proper size and configuration to form a foot by which the base is supported preferably at a little distance above the floor or other article upon which the chest rests.

The numeral 64 designates the head of this bolt, and when used as just described the bolt is passed downward through a hole in a plate 65 of which one is fixed in each corner of the tray T, thence its shank passes downward through a registering hole 66 in the corner of the drawer frame, and finally downward through a registering hole 67 in the corner of the base section, below which it projects so as to receive the nut 63. It is possible, however, that the head may be shaped so as to form a foot for the chest and the entire bolt may be inserted upward instead of downward and the nut applied to its threaded end within the tray, which idea is suggested in Fig. 3. By preference there are four of these supports S, and it is obvious that when a drawer section is added to the chest other supports will have to be substituted which are suiiiciently longer than those they replace to accommodate the thickness of the additionaldrawer sections. For purposes of greatsecurity it may be desirable to insert the bolts with their heads beneath as shown in Fig. 3, and apply the nuts within the top member so that they cannot be removed and the sections of the' chest disconnected, without first removing the nut as by opening or detaching the cover locking device which will now be described.

I have said that the top section preferably comprises a tray and a hinged cover, though the latter might be omitted in some cases or its side bars might be formed integral with those of the tray and this section would then constitute simply a lid. when the hinged cover C is employed, I preferably provide a lock 70 on the front bar of the tray T and a keeper 7l on the forward bar of the cover C adapted to engage the lock when the cover is closed. I also by preference employ a locking de. vice, best seen in Fig. l and designated broadly by the letter L. This consists of a number of links 8l each of a length equal to the thickness of one of the sections of the chest and each having a downturned hook S2 to engage the rear edge 55 (or a keeper on the rear edge) of the drawer D when the latter is closed. About opposite each hook the link has ears 83 at its sides adapted to engage the body of the link below, and the latter is provided in its upper end with a notch 8lwhich tits against the shank of the hook S2 when the two links are assembled. The uppermost link S5 i'noves vertically within the rear side bar 21 of the tray T and is held normally elevated by a spring 86, and its upper end carries a pin 87 which the spring raises above the face of this side bar 21 when the cover is elevated; hence when the cover is depressed its rear side bar 3l depresses the pin 8T, expands the spring 86, and pushes the links downward so that their hooks 82 engagel over the rear bars 55 of the drawers and prevent the latter from being withdrawn.

In order that any drawer which. should be open when the cover is closed, may be pushed into its frame and engaged with its proper hook 2, I preferably attach to the back 55 of the drawer a. catch best seen in Fig. This consists of a housing 90 having pins 91 on which are pivoted latches 92 borne inward toward each other by springs 93, and the working faces of these latches are notched as at 94k soV that as the drawer is pressed home the hook 82 will pass between said faces, bear the latches outward against the tension of their springs, and permit them to snap together and the notches to engage behind the hook as will be clear. I consider this form of locking device particularly useful in a sectional chest of the character describedabove, because it permits t-he indeinite addition of units carrying drawers wit-hout disconnect ing or even temporarily removing the upper link 85 from the top section. In order to do this each unit or member which is provided will have its own link 8l mounted within it, and when the supports S are removed and a new unit is to be inserted, the lower end of its link will be engaged with the upper end of the link in the unit next beneath, and the upper end of its link will But' be engaged with the lower end of the upper link 85 in the unit above as the latter is put into place.

`The hinges, the links 39 if they are used, the lock and its keeper, all parts of the locking device just described, the supports, and perhaps the dowel pins and the plates carrying holes for them are by preference of metal; and the other parts ot' this chest may be of wood or other material and of proper size and finish to make the whole attractive. The drawer sections may have handles 100 at their extremities. By preference I provide the meeting faces of the various nnits with packing 101 such as felt or rubber, so that when they are assembled and clamped together by the supports S the chest will be practically proof against dust or moisture.

Otherwise than as herein described the sizes, proportions, and materials of parts are unimportant; and such changes in and additions to the idea may be adopted as do not depart from the principle of my invention.

`What is claimed as new is:

1. A sectional chest comprising a base member, a top member having means for access to its interior, and interchangeable drawer members each consisting of a frame and a drawer sliding therein; combined with supportsfor locking t-he members when assembled, the same consisting of an upright rod at each corner of the chest with its shank standing within the frames of the several members and one extremity beneath the base and the other within said top.

2. A sectional chest comprising a base member, a top member having means for access to its interior, and interchangeable drawer members 'each consisting of a frame and a drawer sliding therein; combined wit-h supports for locking the members when assembled, the same consisting of an upright bolt at each corner of the chest with its shank standing within the frames of the several members and having at its opposite extremities a head and a nut, one standing beneath the base and the other within the top.

3. A sectional chest .comprising a base member, a top member having means for access to its interior, and interchangeable drawer members-each consisting of a frame and a drawer sliding therein; combined with supports for locking the members when assembled, the same consisting of an upright bolt at each corne-r of the chest with its shank standing within the frames of the several members and having a head at its upper end standing within the top and a nut at its lower end standing beneath the base and constituting a foot for the chest.

4. A sectional chest comprising a base member, a top member consisting of a tray and a cover hinged at one side thereto and adapted to be locked on the tray when closed, and interchangeable drawer members each consisting of a frame and a drawer sliding therein; combined with supports :tor locking the members when assembled, consisting of a vertical bolt in each corner of the chest with its shank passing through the tray of the top member and the side bars of the 'othermembers and having at its opposite ends a head and a nut, one serving as a foot beneath the base member and the other standing within the tray of the top member.

5. A sectional chest comprising a base member, a top member consisting of a tray and a cover hinged at one side thereto and adapted to be locked on the tray when closed, and interchangeable drawer members each consisting of a frame and a drawer sliding therein; combined with supports for locking the members when assembled, consisting of a vertical bolt in each corner of the chest with its shank passing'through the tray of the` top member and the side bars of the other members and having a head at its upper end standingwithin the tray and a nut at its lower end constituting a foot standing beneath the base.

6. In a sectional chest, the combination with the base and top members, interchangeable drawer members adapted to be interposed between the base and top, and detachable means for securing all members together; of a locking device for the drawers consisting of a link sliding vertically in the rear bar of the :trame or' each drawer member and having a downturned hook, an upper link spring supported in the top member and adapted to engage with the link in t-he uppermost drawer member, a cover for the top member adapted when closed to depress said upper link, and a spring catch on the back of each drawer adapted to be engaged by one of said hooks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribedmy signature this the 10th day of J une, A. D. 1910.

GEORGE P. TILTON. lVitnesses:

GEORGE H. HATCH, ALBERT E, LUN'r. 

